Republicans urge Trump declaration of a national emergency be rejected

WASHINGTON – More than 25 former Republican lawmakers and nearly 60 former senior national security officials appealed to Congress on Monday to kill President Donald Trump’s declaration of a national emergency on the Mexican border, countering GOP leaders’ effort to hold down defections Tuesday on a House vote to block Trump.

“It has always been a Republican fundamental principle that no matter how strong our policy preferences, no matter how deep our loyalties to presidents or party leaders, in order to remain a constitutional republic we must act within the borders of the Constitution,” wrote the former members of Congress, including Sens. John Danforth, Chuck Hagel, Olympia Snowe and Richard Lugar, who implored Republicans to protect Congress’ constitutionally mandated power of the purse.